Stack feeding method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Livestock feed such as hay is fed from a stack by loading the stack on a bed and transporting it to a feeding point. The stack is then advanced intermittently along the bed to a position partially underlying a raised cutter bar slicer. As the slicer is lowered, the slices are pushed away from the stack and caused to gravitate to a lateral conveyor which transfers the hay thus sliced from the stack to a point of discharge.

United States Patent [191 I Brooks et al.

[111 3,741,051 [451 June 26,1973

[ STACK FEEDING METHOD AND APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Dean P. Brooks,Hesston; Ferol S.

Fell; Harold Keith Garrison, both of Newton, all of Kans.; Richard W.Job, Racine, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Hesston Corporation, Hess'ton, Kans. 22 Filed: May 26,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 146,882

52 use: 83/23, 83/109, 83/401 51 1nt.Cl. A01f 29/00, B26d 7/06 [58]Field of Search 146/70,70.l, 15s;

[561' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,541,442 2/1951 Skoog146/155 X 3,385,336 5/1968 Barnard 146/155X 3,477,488 11/1969 Burrows146/70 Primary Examiner-Willie G. Abercrombie V Attorney-Schmidt,Johnson, l-lovey & Willaims [5 7] ABSTRACT Livestock feed such as hay isfed from a stack by loading the stack on a bed and transporting it to afeeding point. The stack is then advanced intermittently along the bedto a position partially underlying a raised cutter bar slicer. As theslicer is lowered, the slices are pushed away from the stack and causedto gravitate to a lateral conveyor which transfers the hay thus slicedfrom the stack to a point of discharge.

29 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented June 26, 1973 3,741,051

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dean R Brooks Feral S. Fgl/ BY Harold Ke/fh GarrisonRichard W. Job

ATTURNEYS.

Patented June 26, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 1-:

INVEN'TURS. Dean R Brooks Feral S. Fell Hqro/d Keith Barr/son Richard W.Job

Patented June 26,1973 3,741,051

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2H 32 i 52 l I E 2 A6 I i i 55 M i is j 1! i w I I, I I1' I I F 1 5 1N VEN TORS HINT Dean P Brooks Feral 5. Fell BY Hqr'oldKeith Garrison Richard W. Job

STACK FEEDING METHOD AND APPARATUS An important object of our presentinvention is to provide an improved method and implement for feedingfrom stacks by cutting the stacks into separate slices and dischargingthe slices intoshredders or grinders, into feed bunks or directly ontothe ground in the case of range feeding of livestock.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide forraising the stack, transporting it to a feeding point and thereuponremoving portions of the stack in the form of slices while the implementis advanced along the feed bunks or across a feeding area of an openrange.

Still another important object of the present invention is to providefor automatic operation in which, by

, a single, continuous step, the entire stack is sliced and fed withoutinterruption, manual labor or consumption of an appreciable amount oftime.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a.

stack feeding apparatus made in accordance with our present inventionand capable of carrying out our improved method of feeding from stacks;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken online 44of FIG. 4 but with the cutter head shown in its lowered position;

FIG. 5' is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG.4, parts being broken away and in section for clearness; I I FIG. 6 is afragmentary, detailed cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. '4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary detailed front elevational viewsimilar to FIG. 2 illustrating certain of the upper components of themast;

FIGL8 is a fragmentary, detailed cross-sectional view taken online 8-8of FIG. 7; 7

' FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view similar toFIG. 2 illustrating certain of the components of the mast at its lowerend; and v FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG.9.

It is'contemplated by the instant invention that hay may be fed toanimals by picking up the stack, hauling it to the feed lot, advancingthe stack forwardly along the bed of thetransporting vehicle, cuttingthestack into slices, conveying the slices laterally, and discharging themdirectly into the feed bunks. Variations in the procedure include waysother than that hereinafter explained for loading the hay onto thewagon, use of trucks or other self-propelled vehicles rather thantraildisposed in spaced relation to the front end of bed 16 and inclinedrearwardly towardthe stack 26 as the upper end of mast 30 is approached.Mast 30 is provided with a differential purchase arrangement by the useof a base section 32, an intermediate section 34 having rollers 36 whichengage base section 32, and by an upper section 38 having rollers 40which engage intermediate section 34, such that extension of a fluidpressure piston and cylinder unit 42 to raise intermediate section 34,multipli'es the amount of upward movement of upper section 38.

Each of the three polygonal sections 32, 34 and 38 of mast 30 isprovided with a pair of spaced, U-shaped side rails or channelsinterconnected by a pair of crosspieces, the lower crosspiece 44 of basesection 32 pivotally receiving the lower end of unit 42 and the uppercrosspiece 46 of intermediate section 34 pivotally receiving the upperend of unit 42, such that extension of unit 42 raises both sections 34and 38.

The upper end of intermediate section 34 has a cross shaft 48 providedwith a pair of sprocket wheels 50,

each receiving a chain 52, and the lower end of inter- 'mediate section34 has sprocket wheels 54 beneath ,Thus, as intermediate section 34 israised by unit 42,

the sprocket wheels 50 and 54 rotate anticlockwise,

viewing FIG. 4, to also raise the upper section 38.

The above-mentioned reciprocable structure, which includes the section38, carries mechanism for cutting slices off the stack 26 on eachdownstroke of upper section 38, such mechanism-including a sickle 64reciprocable transversely of the pathof reciprocation of sections 34 and38 of mast 30.-Upper section 38 has twoarms 66 rigid'thereto andextending from its side rails and its upper crosspiece toward the stack26 above the spacebetwee'n mast 3t) and bed 16.-Arms 66 are joined attheir outer ends by a crosshead 68 and are provided with brackets 70which support a beam 72 therebelow. Beam 72 provides the support at itslower longitudinal edge for the sickle 64.

Sickle 64 is driven from a hydraulic motor 74 which rotates a flywheel76, a pulley 78 and an eccentric 80 on p'ulley 78. A pitman rod82coupled with eccentric 80 has a pivotal connection with a link 84swingable on beam 72 and joined to sickle 64 by a universal joint 86.

By virtue of the inclination of mast 30, there is a re-' duction in thetendency of hay falling from the stack 26 ers, feeding into shredders orgrinders, unloading onto the ground or into receptacles other thanbunks, and many other-modifications of the method and the specificdetails of construction, all within the scope of our into the path ofupward movement of the mechanism which includes arms 66, crosshead 68,beam 72 andsickle 64. However, as the sickle 64 cuts kerfs through thestack 26 in front of bed 16 on the downstrokes of such mechanism, theslices thus severed tend to lean against the stack 26. Separating meansin the nature of a vibratory apparatus 88 is therefore provided on beam72 for reciprocation therewith.

like flipper 90 having a hinge connection 92 with beam 72 adjacentsickle 64. Flipper 90 is coextensive in length with the beam 72 and thesickle 64 and is appreciably widened intermediate its ends. It is.oscillated about hinge 92 bythe motor 74 through a pulley 94 carried bycrosshead 68 and coupled with pulley78 by a belt 96. A link 98 pivotallyinterconnects a bracket Apparatus 88 is in the nature of anelongated'panel- 100 on flipper 90 and an eccentric 102 on pulley 94.

Flipper 90 descends with beam 72, enters the kerf made by sickle 64 towiden the kerf and separates the slice away from the stack 26 in thedirection of advancement of stack 26 toward mast 30. Such displacementof the slice to overcome its tendency to lean away from the mast 30 isenhanced by the slice pushing movement of flipper 90 downwardly and awayfrom the beam 72 as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 4.

A lateral conveyor 104 (driven from the power takeoff shaft of thetractor, not shown, for towing the trailer 12) is provided on theframework which includes tongue 14 to receive the gravitating slices asthe sickle 64 descends to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 1, andto transfer the slices from beneath the descending mechanism. Conveyor104 is provided with a continuous drag chain assembly 106 which extendsentirely across the front of bed 16 and around a swingable section 108of conveyor 104.

When it is desired to raise conveyor section 108 to I the position shownin FIG. 2, a spring-loaded latch 110,

reciprocable on mast section 32, is swung into the path of a hook 112 onmast section 34. As latch 110 is lowered by the hook 112 it pulls on acable 114 to raise the conveyor section 108.

Mast 30 also supports a pair of wings 116 swingable toward and away fromeach other to constrain the slices for gravitation to the conveyor 104.Extensible, spring-loaded linkage 118 permits the wings 116 to adjust inaccordance with the width of the stack 26.

OPERATION Through use of a tractor or other towing vehicle coupled withthe hitch 28, the trailer 12 is backed into the stack while the bed 16is tilted about the axis 18 through use of the piston-cylinder means 20.Simultaneous operation of the drag chain means 22 transfers the stack 26onto the bed 16, whereupon the latter is returned to its normalhorizontal position illustrated in FIG.'1.

The vehicle 12 is then moved, with the stack 26 thereon, to a feedingpoint, and the drag chain means 22 is again placed in operation toadvance the stack 26 slightly toward the mast 30 to the position shownin FIG. 1 where a portion of the stack 26 extends beyond the front ofthe bed 16 in underlying relationship to the sickle 64, such extendedportion of the stack 26 also partially overlapping the lateral conveyor104.

The piston and cylinder unit 42 is then retracted to lower the sickle 64into cutting relationship to the stack 26. Manifestly, the stack 26remains stationary during the downstroke of the sickle 64, and theflipper 90 as well as the sickle 64 are driven continuously by the motor74 during the retraction of the power means 42. Moreover, the conveyor104 is driven continuously to transfer the hay which it receiveslaterally of the trailer 12 beyond the section 108 of the conveyor 104.

Throughout the slicing operation the flipper 90 pushes the haydownwardly and away from the stack 26 toward the mast 30 for gravitationto the conveyor 104, and the wings 116 operate to guide the cutaway hayso as to properly land upon the continuously moving assembly 106.

The sickle 64 is then again raised to the position shown in full linesby FIG. 1; the stack 26 is advanced another increment; and the sickle 64is lowered to slice off another quantity of feed from the stack 26.

In one contemplated use, the vehicle 12 is advanced continuously alongthe feed bunks so as to deposit the hay thereinto from the conveyorsection 108. On the other hand, in the case of range feeding, thevehicle 12 may be advanced continuously to deposit the hay on the groundin a suitable feeding area. Still further, the hay emanating from theconveyor section 108 may be discharged directly into equipment forfurther processing such as shredders or grinders.

For over-the-road travel, the mast sections 34 and 38, and therefore thecutter head are lowered to the position illustrated in FIG. 4, andduring such lowering, the latch 110 is swung to a position within thepath of travel of the hook 112 so as to raise the conveyor section 108through the cable 114 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A feeder for a stack of harvested crop comprising:

an elongated stack support;

a mast spaced from one end of said support to define a crop-receivingspace between the mast andsaid end; structure carried by the mast forreciprocation along the mast between the upper and lower ends of themast;

means engageable with the stack on said support for intermittentlyadvancing the stack along the support to position a portion of the stackbeyond said end of the support in overhanging relationship to saidspace; and

cutting mechanism carried by said structure for reciprocation therewithand extending across the stack transversely to the direction ofadvancement thereof for progressively slicing said overhanging portionoff said stack and progressively into said space transversely of I saiddirection of advancement of the stack during each downstroke of saidstructure until all of said portion has been separated from the stack. 5

2. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 1; and means i for transferringsaid slices from beneath said mechanism as the slices gravitate throughsaid space.

3. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 2; and means constraining saidslices for gravitation to said transfer means.

4. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 1; and means guiding saidstructure for reciprocation along a rectilinear path inclined towardsaid stack as said upper end of the mast is approached.

5. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 4, said mechanism including asickle reciprocable horizontally and rectilinearly along a path oftravel normal to the path of reciprocation of said structure.

6. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 4; and means for overcoming thetendency of the slices to lean away from the mast toward said stack.

7. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 1, said mechanism including asickle reciprocable transversely of the path of reciprocation of saidstructure.

8. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 7; and means carried by saidstructure for reciprocation therewith, for movement into the kerfs madeinto the stack by said sickle as the kerfs are made, and for displacingthe slices away from the stack in the direction of advancement of thestack.

9. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 8, said displacement meansincluding apparatus extending along the sickle and swingably mounted foroscillation toward and away from the slices during said downstroke ofsaid structure.

10. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 1; and means for separating saidslices from the stack and moving the same away from the stack in thedirection of advancement of the stack.

11. A stack feeder as claimed in claim and means for receiving saidseparated slices and transferring the same from beneath said mechanism.

12. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 10, said separating meansincluding apparatus for widening the kerfs made in the stack by saidmechanism.

13. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 12; and means for vibrating saidapparatus as said kerfs are made.

14. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 13; and means mounting saidapparatus on said structure for reciprocation therewith.

15. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 2, said transferring meansincluding a lateral conveyor.

16. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 16; and means guiding saidstructure for reciprocation along a rectilinear path inclined towardsaid stack as said upper end of the mast is approached.

17. A stack feeder as claimed in claim l7,'andstructure including a boomextending from the mast toward the stack in overlying relationship tosaid space, said mechanism Including a sickle carried by the boomremotely from the mast and reciprocable transversely of the path ofreciprocation of said structure.

18. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 18; and means carried by saidboom for reciprocation therewith, for movement into the kerfs made intothe stack by said sickle as the kerfs are made, and for displacing theslices away from the stack in the direction of advancement of the stack.

19. A method of feeding from a stack of harvested crop which includesthe steps of:

loading the stack onto a support; advancing the stack along the supportto a position overhanging an end of the support and underlying a cutter;

lowering the cutter across thestack transversely to its direction ofadvancement to -progressively slice the overhanging portion from saidstack for gravitation from the support;

removing the slice from beneath the cutter as the latter progressivelydescends from the support raising the cutter; and

repeating the stack-advancing, slice-cutting and slice-removing stepssuccessively until the stack is totally unloaded From the support.

20. A method of feeding from a stack as claimed in claim 19 wherein thesupport is transported to a previously formed stack prior to loading andthen transported to a point of feeding prior to cutting off the firstslice.

21. A method of feeding from a stack as claimed in claim 20 wherein thesupport Is advanced as the stack is unloaded.

22. A method of feeding from a stack as claimed in claim 19 wherein aportion of the stack extends beyond said support each time the stack isin said position, said portions comprising the slices that are cut offthe stack by the cutter.

23. A method of feeding from a stack as claimed in claim 19 wherein theslices are constrained to gravitational movement as they are cut off,and are removed by conveying the same laterally of the support.

24. A method of feeding from a stack as claimed in claim 19 wherein theslices are pushed away from the stack as they are being cut off.

25. A method of feeding from a stack as claimed in claim 19 wherein thecuts through the stack are on an means engageable with the stack on thesupport for advancing the stack along the support; cutting mechanismincluding a reciprocable sickle; means supporting said mechanism formovement along a path through said stack with the sickle reciprocatingtransversely of said path for cutting a slice off the stack; andseparating means movable with said mechanism for insertion into thekerfs made in the stack by said sickle as the kerfs are made fordisplacing the slices away from the stack in the direction ofadvancement of the stack. 28. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 27,said separating means including apparatus extending along the sickle andswingably mounted for oscillation toward and away from the slices duringsaid downstroke of said structure.

29. A stack feeder comprising: a stack support; means engageable withthe stack on the support for advancing the stack along the support;cutting mechanism; means supporting said mechanism for movement relativeto the support for cutting a slice off the'stack during such movement;apparatus For widening the kerfs made in the stack by said mechanism toseparate said slices away from the stack in the direction of advancementof the stack; and

made.

1. A feeder for a stack of harvested crop comprising: an elongated stacksupport; a mast spaced from one end of said support to define acropreceiving space between the mast and said end; structure carried bythe mast for reciprocation along the mast between the upper and lowerends of the mast; means engageable with the stack on said support forintermittently advancing the stack along the support to position aportion of the stack beyond said end of the support in overhangingrelationship to said space; and cutting mechanism carried by saidstructure for reciprocation therewith and extending across the stacktransversely to the direction of advancement thereof for progressivelyslicing said overhanging portion off said stack and progressively intosaid space transversely of said direction of advancement of the stackduring each downstroke of said structure until all of said portion hasbeen separated from the stack.
 2. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 1;and means for transferring said slices from beneath said mechanism asthe slices gravitate through said space.
 3. A stack feeder as claimed inclaim 2; and means constraining said slices for gravitation to saidtransfer means.
 4. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 1; and meansguiding said structure for reciprocation along a rectilinear pathinclined toward said stack as said upper end of the mast is approached.5. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 4, said mechanism including asickle reciprocable horizontally and rectilinearly along a path oftravel normal to the path of reciprocation of said structure.
 6. A stackfeeder as claimed in claim 4; and means for overcoming the tendency ofthe slices to lean away from the mast toward said stack.
 7. A stackfeeder as claimed in claim 1, said mechanism including a sicklereciprocable transversely of the path of reciprocation of saidstructure.
 8. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 7; and means carried bysaid structure for reciprocation therewith, for movement into the kerfsmade into the stack by said sickle as the kerfs are made, and fordisplacing the slices away from the stack in the direction ofadvancement of the stack.
 9. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 8, saiddisplacement means including apparatus extending along the sickle andswingably mounted for oscillation toward and away from the slices duringsaid downstroke of said structure.
 10. A stack feeder as claimed inclaim 1; and means for separating said slices from the stack and movingthe same away from the stack in the direction of advancement of thestack.
 11. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 10; and means forreceiving said separated slices and transferring the same from beneathsaid mechanism.
 12. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 10, saidseparating means including apparatus for widening the kerfs made in thestack by said mechanism.
 13. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 12; andmeans for vibrating said apparatus as said kerfs are made.
 14. A stackfeeder as claimed in claim 13; and means mounting said apparatus on saidstructure for reciprocation therewith.
 15. A stack feeder as claimed inclaim 2, said transferring means including a lateral conveyor.
 16. Astack feeder as claimed in claim 16; and means guiding said structurefor reciprocation along a rectilinear path inclined toward said stack assaid upper end of the mast is approached.
 17. A stack feeder as claimedin claim 17, and structure including a boom extending from the masttoward the stack in overlying relationship to said space, said mechanismIncluding a sickle carried by the boom remotely from the mast andreciprocable transversely of the path of reciprocation of saidstructure.
 18. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 18; and means carriedby said boom for reciprocation therewith, for movement into the kerfsmade into the stack by Said sickle as the kerfs are made, and fordisplacing the slices away from the stack in the direction ofadvancement of the stack.
 19. A method of feeding from a stack ofharvested crop which includes the steps of: loading the stack onto asupport; advancing the stack along the support to a position overhangingan end of the support and underlying a cutter; lowering the cutteracross the stack transversely to its direction of advancement toprogressively slice the overhanging portion from said stack forgravitation from the support; removing the slice from beneath the cutteras the latter progressively descends from the support raising thecutter; and repeating the stack-advancing, slice-cutting andslice-removing steps successively until the stack is totally unloadedFrom the support.
 20. A method of feeding from a stack as claimed inclaim 19 wherein the support is transported to a previously formed stackprior to loading and then transported to a point of feeding prior tocutting off the first slice.
 21. A method of feeding from a stack asclaimed in claim 20 wherein the support Is advanced as the stack isunloaded.
 22. A method of feeding from a stack as claimed in claim 19wherein a portion of the stack extends beyond said support each time thestack is in said position, said portions comprising the slices that arecut off the stack by the cutter.
 23. A method of feeding from a stack asclaimed in claim 19 wherein the slices are constrained to gravitationalmovement as they are cut off, and are removed by conveying the samelaterally of the support.
 23. A stack feeder as claimed in claim 27,said separating means including apparatus extending along the sickle andswingably mounted for oscillation toward and away from the slices duringsaid downstroke of said structure.
 24. A method of feeding from a stackas claimed in claim 19 wherein the slices are pushed away from the stackas they are being cut off.
 25. A method of feeding from a stack asclaimed in claim 19 wherein the cuts through the stack are on an inclinecommencing at a point overlying the support and terminating at a pointspaced outwardly of one end of the support.
 26. A method of feeding froma stack as claimed in claim 25 wherein the slices are constantly flippedaway from the stack as they are cut therefrom to overcome their tendencyto lean toward the stack.
 27. A stack feeder comprising: a stacksupport; means engageable with the stack on the support for advancingthe stack along the support; cutting mechanism including a reciprocablesickle; means supporting said mechanism for movement along a paththrough said stack with the sickle reciprocating transversely of saidpath for cutting a slice off the stack; and separating means movablewith said mechanism for insertion into the kerfs made in the stack bysaid sickle as the kerfs are made for displacing the slices away fromthe stack in the direction of advancement of the stack.
 29. A stackfeeder comprising: a stack support; means engageable with the stack onthe support for advancing the stack along the support; cuttingmechanism; means supporting said mechanism for movement relative to thesupport for cutting a slice off the stack during such movement;apparatus For widening the kerfs made in the stack by said mechanism toseparate said slices away from the stack in the direction of advancementof the stack; and means for vibrating said apparatus as said kerfs aremade.